Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support the development of a Scottish version of the agri-environmental computer programme "Environmental Management for Agriculture" which is presently supported by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ross Finnie: This programme was developed by the University of Hertfordshire with funding from MAFF and other bodies. The Scottish Executive saw no point in duplicating this effort and I am now considering the case for adapting this programme to meet Scottish needs as part of the development of the Agricultural Strategy for Scotland.

Cancer

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio of bowel cancer consultants to head of population is in each health board area.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally. Consultants treating patients with bowel cancer will be included under the specialty of general surgery.

Consumer Protection

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in relation to consumer protection matters.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The position is set out in Schedule 5, C7 of the Scotland Act 1998.

Council Tax

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) people receiving Council Tax Benefit but not 100% benefit and (b) people not in receipt of Council Tax Benefit were in payment arrears in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99, (iv) 1999-2000 and to date in the current financial year.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. Social security benefits including Council Tax Benefit are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the Department of Social Security.

European Convention on Human Rights

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for recording the number and nature of European Convention on Human Rights issues raised in legal proceedings under section 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Mr Jim Wallace: Since Convention issues may be raised in any legal proceedings, whether civil or criminal, involving a public authority in any court or tribunal across the country, it would not be possible at reasonable cost to gather the statistics to which Mr Paterson refers.

Exports

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made since 1 July 1999 of the impact on Scottish exports of the value of pound sterling.

Ms Wendy Alexander: We fully recognise that trading conditions have been difficult, and applaud the efforts of our exporters to stay competitive. Growth in the euro area has been picking up and overall macroeconomic conditions continue to be positive for our businesses: inflation is low and stable; the base rate is low by historical UK standards and unchanged since February, and long-term interest rates are low.

Film Industry

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it proposes to make available for research and development in the area of film and media development.

Allan Wilson: Scottish Screen as the public body for film and related media assesses current developments and opportunities in the film, television and new media industries. In doing so they work with Scottish Enterprise who launched their Creative Industries Cluster Plan in August. No specific funding for such research and development has been identified by the Executive.

Film Industry

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is in relation to the creation of a film studio in Scotland; what action it has taken in support of any such strategy, and what funding is available for the sourcing and establishment of a film studio.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has noted the evidence that a film studio in Scotland could help to bring about a substantial expansion in the volume of production in film, television and new media in Scotland. Scottish Screen has put forward a proposal for the construction of a film studio. This is being considered by the Executive.

Legislation

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to deal with any difficulties or inequalities in the law on march fence type boundary walls as identified in page nine of the Consultation Paper on Mutual Boundary Walls issued by the Scottish Law Commission in 1992.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Commission published a report on this subject on 25 March 1998, which recommended that it was not necessary to introduce legislation either to reform or restate the existing law on boundary walls. The Executive supports this view and does not plan to take any action in this area.

Legislation

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend current legislation to ensure that an individual who raises a court action that results in a decision that expenses as taxed should be met by another party is not left having to meet the cost of those expenses, or part of them, when the person against whom they were awarded is subsequently declared bankrupt.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have no plans to make such changes to Scottish bankruptcy law.

NHS Funding

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9978 by Susan Deacon on 26 October 2000, whether it will seek to recover in full overspends by each NHSiS Trust.

Susan Deacon: All NHS Trusts that have incurred an operational financial overspend have been asked to produce a financial plan which restores the Trust to recurring financial balance whilst protecting patient services.

  Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, published on 14 December, states that the Executive plans to review the current financial regime for the NHS in Scotland and will publish details in the spring.

NHS Funding

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is continuing to fund health bodies which operate in reserved areas by virtue of the Scotland Act 1998.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has now concluded discussions with the Department of Health and the Scotland Office about arrangements for the funding of five bodies in the health field, which deal with reserved matters. The bodies are the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; the Human Genetics Commission; the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Authority; the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, and the National Biological Standards Board. Prior to devolution, the former Scottish Office contributed to the costs of these bodies; and financial provision has hitherto remained within the Scottish Executive budget. Arrangements have now been made to transfer to the Department of Health the Scottish share of the costs of these bodies. The sums involved are as follows:

  


1999-2000
£000 
  

2000-01
£000 
  

2001-02
£000 
  

2002-03
£000 
  

2003-04
£000 
  



62 
  

991.8 
  

970.5 
  

994.1 
  

1018.7 
  



  Once the transfer has been completed, funding of these bodies will become the responsibility of the Department of Health.

NHS Staff

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the number of (i) non-consultant career grades broken down by individual grade and (ii) non-standard grades in Scotland over the last five years, broken down by Health Trust.

Susan Deacon: Information on the total number of non-consultant career grade and non-standard grade staff employed by the NHS in Scotland is detailed in the following tables. Tables 1 and 2 show the number of medical and dental non-consultant career grade staff before and after the April 1999 reconfiguration of NHS Trusts; Tables 3 and 4 show the number of medical and dental non-standard grade staff before and after Trust reconfiguration. The tables should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  Table 1 – Medical and Dental Non-Consultant Career Grade3 Staff

  Headcount by NHS Trust, 1995 to 1998

  




1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  



Scotland4


1,936 
  

1,857 
  

1,891 
  

1,903 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Health Board Headquarters 
  

 1 
  

1 
  

 2 
  

2 
  



South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

26 
  

 30 
  

 28 
  

 23 
  



North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust 
  

40 
  

 43 
  

 43 
  

 45 
  



Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust 
  

61 
  

 61 
  

 49 
  

44 
  



Borders Health Board Headquarters 
  

1 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  



Borders General Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 9 
  

 9 
  

 8 
  

 9 
  



Borders Community Health Services NHS Trust 
  

 16 
  

 16 
  

 16 
  

 14 
  



Argyll & Clyde Health Board Headquarters 
  

3 
  

 3 
  

 4 
  

 4 
  



Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 25 
  

 23 
  

 23 
  

 21 
  



Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust 
  

13 
  

 12 
  

 18 
  

 18 
  



Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 67 
  

 63 
  

 68 
  

 66 
  



Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 23 
  

 22 
  

 36 
  

 29 
  



Argyll & Bute NHS Trust 
  

 34 
  

 35 
  

 38 
  

 38 
  



Common Services Agency 
  

 39 
  

 39 
  

 33 
  

 26 
  



Fife Health Board Headquarters 
  

 1 
  

 2 
  

 1 
  

- 
  



Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 19 
  

 18 
  

 19 
  

 32 
  



Fife Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 79 
  

 74 
  

 73 
  

 71 
  



Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 38 
  

 39 
  

 41 
  

 38 
  



Greater Glasgow Health Board Headquarters 
  

 8 
  

 5 
  

 5 
  

 5 
  



Southern General Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 19 
  

 19 
  

 21 
  

 19 
  



Yorkhill NHS Trust 
  

 42 
  

 42 
  

 36 
  

 35 
  



Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust 
  

 29 
  

 28 
  

 26 
  

 23 
  



West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust 
  

 54 
  

 57 
  

 59 
  

 51 
  



Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust 
  

 33 
  

 30 
  

 25 
  

 21 
  



Stobhill NHS Trust 
  

 16 
  

 17 
  

 15 
  

 13 
  



Glasgow Community & Mental Health Services NHS Trust 
  

104 
  

 103 
  

 102 
  

 107 
  



Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust 
  

 55 
  

 65 
  

 65 
  

 70 
  



Highland Health Board Headquarters 
  

 5 
  

 4 
  

 6 
  

 6 
  



Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 34 
  

 29 
  

 31 
  

 34 
  



Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust 
  

 21 
  

 19 
  

 23 
  

 23 
  



Highland Communities NHS Trust 
  

 42 
  

 43 
  

 50 
  

 56 
  



Lanarkshire Health Board Headquarters 
  

 1 
  

 2 
  

 1 
  

 2 
  



Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 29 
  

 26 
  

 32 
  

 30 
  



Law Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 22 
  

 24 
  

 23 
  

 31 
  



Hairmyres & Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 19 
  

 15 
  

 14 
  

 18 
  



Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 80 
  

 77 
  

 80 
  

 90 
  



Grampian Health Board Headquarters 
  

 4 
  

 4 
  

 4 
  

 4 
  



Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 79 
  

 80 
  

 74 
  

 69 
  



Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 97 
  

 96 
  

 98 
  

 115 
  



Moray Health Services NHS Trust 
  

 21 
  

 23 
  

 21 
  

 21 
  



Orkney Health Board 
  

 12 
  

 13 
  

 13 
  

 17 
  



Lothian Health Board Headquarters 
  

 21 
  

 7 
  

 7 
  

 22 
  



West Lothian NHS Trust 
  

 54 
  

 48 
  

 49 
  

 45 
  



Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust 
  

 58 
  

 61 
  

 71 
  

 74 
  



Edinburgh Sick Children’s NHS Trust 
  

 27 
  

 23 
  

 23 
  

 21 
  



Western General Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 21 
  

 18 
  

 16 
  

 18 
  



East & Midlothian NHS Trust 
  

 26 
  

 31 
  

 29 
  

 23 
  



Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 69 
  

 62 
  

 63 
  

 54 
  



Tayside Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  

 2 
  

 1 
  

- 
  



Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 77 
  

 56 
  

 58 
  

 56 
  



Perth & Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 41 
  

 38 
  

 41 
  

 36 
  



Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 46 
  

 43 
  

 46 
  

 41 
  



Angus NHS Trust 
  

 21 
  

 21 
  

 26 
  

 27 
  



Forth Valley Health Board Headquarters 
  

 3 
  

 5 
  

 5 
  

 5 
  



Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust 
  

 18 
  

 16 
  

 20 
  

 23 
  



Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust 
  

 14 
  

 13 
  

 27 
  

 25 
  



Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 66 
  

 64 
  

 61 
  

 62 
  



Western Isles Health Board 
  

 16 
  

 15 
  

 13 
  

 14 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  

 2 
  

 2 
  

 1 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Acute & Maternity Hospitals 
  NHS Trust 
  

43 
  

 40 
  

 41 
  

 46 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Community Health NHS Trust 
  

 62 
  

 51 
  

 49 
  

 57 
  



Shetland Health Board 
  

 12 
  

 9 
  

 5 
  

 10 
  



  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Data is as at 30 September for the years shown.

  3. Non-consultant career grades include Directors of Public Health, Chief Administrative Dental Officers, Assistant Chief Administrative Dental Officers, Medical Advisors, Assistant Prescribing Advisors, Associate Specialists, Staff Grade, Senior Clinical Medical Officers, Clinical Medical Officers, Senior Dental Officers, Dental Officers, Limited Specialists, Hospital Practitioners, Dental Advisors, Para 94 App, Para 107 App.

  4. There is an element of double counting of "heads" in this table because doctors can hold contracts in more than one Trust.

  Table 2 – Medical and Dental Non-Consultant Career Grade3 Staff

  Headcount by NHS Trust, 1999

  


Scotland4


1,936 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Health Board Headquarters 
  

 3 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 73 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 55 
  



Borders Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  



Borders Acute Hospital NHS Trust 
  

 7 
  



Borders Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 11 
  



Argyll & Clyde Health Board Headquarters 
  

 4 
  



Argyll & Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 61 
  



Lomond & Argyll Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 24 
  



Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 60 
  



CSA 
  

 26 
  



Fife Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  



Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 63 
  



Fife Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 74 
  



Greater Glasgow Health Board Headquarters 
  

 5 
  



Yorkhill NHS Trust 
  

 33 
  



South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 39 
  



North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 180 
  



Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 102 
  



Highland Health Board Headquarters 
  

 4 
  



Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 45 
  



Highland Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 79 
  



Lanarkshire Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  



Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 85 
  



Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 89 
  



Grampian Health Board Headquarters 
  

 3 
  



Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 105 
  



Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 98 
  



Orkney Health Board 
  

 25 
  



Lothian Health Board Headquarters 
  

 6 
  



Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 100 
  



Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 80 
  



West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 50 
  



Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 115 
  



Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 84 
  



Forth Valley Health Board Headquarters 
  

 4 
  



Forth Valley Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 41 
  



Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 64 
  



Western Isles Health Board 
  

 13 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Acute & Maternity Hospitals 
  NHS Trust 
  

 50 
  



Dumfries & Galloway Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 62 
  



Shetland Health Board 
  

 5 
  



  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Data is as at 30 September 1999.

  3. Non-consultant career grades are as detailed in the notes for Table 1.

  4. There is an element of double counting of "heads" in this table because doctors can hold contracts in more than one Trust.

  Table 3 – Medical and Dental Non-Standard Grade3 Staff

  Headcount by NHS Trust, 1995 to 1998

  




1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  



Scotland 
  

 20 
  

 25 
  

 49 
  

 13 
  



Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

* 7 
  

*- 
  



Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  

- 
  



Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  



Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust 
  

 3 
  

 2 
  

 3 
  

 2 
  



Highland Health Board Headquarters 
  

 8 
  

 9 
  

 7 
  

 1 
  



Lothian Health Board Headquarters 
  

- 
  

- 
  

*16 
  

*1 
  



Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust 
  

 5 
  

 8 
  

 7 
  

 2 
  



Edinburgh Sick Children’s NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  



Western General Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 3 
  

 5 
  

 5 
  

 3 
  



Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  

- 
  



Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  



Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust 
  

- 
  

- 
  

 1 
  

 1 
  



  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Data is as at 30 September for each of the years shown.

  3. Non-standard grades may include Honorary Dental Surgeons, Hospital Specialists, Trust Grade Doctors, Salaried General Dental Practitioners in the Community, Dental Practice Advisors and Clinical Research Fellows.

  4. *The fluctuation in figures between 1996, 1997 and 1998 for Lothian and Ayrshire and Arran is a result of changes in the coding of certain grades of staff.

  Table 4 – Medical and Dental Non-Standard Grade3 Staff

  Headcount by NHS Trust, 1999

  


Scotland 
  

9 
  



Ayrshire & Arran Health Board Headquarters 
  

 1 
  



Lomond & Argyll Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 1 
  



Fife Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 1 
  



North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 2 
  



Lothian Health Board Headquarters 
  

 2 
  



Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust 
  

 1 
  



Forth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust 
  

 1 
  



  Notes:

  1. Source: Medical and Dental Manpower Census, ISD Scotland.

  2. Data is as at 30 September 1999.

  3. Non-standard grades are as detailed in the notes for Table 3.

NHS Waiting Times

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has received concerning waiting times for first appointments with neurology consultants.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive has received a recent request to discuss neurological services with Scottish neurologists. Officials will shortly be arranging a meeting with representatives from the four neurology centres in Scotland.

New Deal

Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary constituencies fall within which New Deal Units of Delivery.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.

  New Deal Units of Delivery equate to Local Enterprise Company boundaries rather than parliamentary constituencies.

  New Deal statistical figures are taken from job centre returns within each Unit of Delivery. It is not possible to match parliamentary constituency figures, determined by postal codes, with Units of Delivery figures.

Organ Donation

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of a liver transplant was in 1999-2000.

Susan Deacon: The average cost associated with carrying out a liver transplant was £20,930. This figure does not include the costs incurred by the other NHS Scotland   agencies which have a part to play in transplantation, such as the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service or the costs incurred by the hospital from which the donor organ was retrieved.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of the imprisonment of Tommy Sheridan MSP will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The precise cost for each of our 5,700 prisoners is not calculated. The published SPS target average cost per prisoner per year is £29,500 for 2000-01.

Prison Service

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the contractual arrangement between the Scottish Prison Service and Medacs, including all costings involved.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The contract awarded to Medacs provides Primary Care Medical Services to all SPS prison locations. These services comprise regular scheduled "clinics" for prisoners, medical examinations for prisoner receptions and out of hours cover for visits by Medical Officers. Costs for this service are entirely confidential between Medacs and SPS.

Public Transport

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any money from the Rural Transport Fund has been used to maintain service levels on existing transport services.

Sarah Boyack: The grants which are paid to local authorities for rural public passenger transport services are for supporting additional services which did not exist before the introduction of the Rural Transport Fund. I am aware that one authority used some of its grant to maintain existing services which it had previously decided to cut before the start of the fund.

Scots Language

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the practice of the Norwegian Government and support authors who write in indigenous languages by buying the first 1,000 copies of books written in Scots and placing them in libraries throughout the country.

Allan Wilson: No. The acquisition of books for libraries is primarily the responsibility of the library authorities.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether students will be entitled to compensation over the Scottish Qualifications Authority exams situation and, if so, whether it will provide details.

Mr Jack McConnell: Whether students had a right to compensation would be largely for the courts to determine and would depend on the circumstances of the individual case.

Skye Bridge

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the Invergarry–Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (Variation) Order 1999, in particular as regards the classification of vehicles based on vehicle length.

Sarah Boyack: No. Details of the classification of vehicles for tolling purposes at the Skye Bridge are set out in my letter of 27 November to the member.

Social Inclusion

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to local authorities to ensure that its social inclusion objectives are being realised, with particular regard to ensuring the inclusion of children with disabilities and learning difficulties in school sports activities and after-school clubs.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive Inclusion Programme is providing £12 million over two years from April 1999 to assist local authorities to include children with special educational needs in mainstream education.

  The Scottish Executive provides funding to sportscotland who, amongst other things, work with Scottish Disability Sport, the governing body for sport for people with disabilities in Scotland. Both organisations, with some involvement by local authorities, run numerous programmes and initiatives which aim to benefit children with a disability during and after school hours.

  Childcare providers/organisations are eligible for funding from the New Opportunities Fund for out of school care projects. Since its first awards in July 1999, the New Opportunities Fund has made grant commitments of £15 million in Scotland, of which £9.7 million has been committed under the Out of Schools Hours Learning programme and £3.8 million for Out of School Hours Child Care. Provision for children with special educational needs is included within these programmes.

  In addition, authorities are also using resources from the £4 million allocated to them to improve the childcare infrastructure, over this year and next, to improve access to out of school care for children with special educational needs.

Sport

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it is making available and how it plans to provide for the development of home-based athletes in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and the Olympic Games in 2004 and what discussions have taken place with Her Majesty’s Government and Scottish and UK sports bodies over the formation of sports institutes.

Allan Wilson: Under the   Lottery Sports Fund, £2.2 million per year is committed to the Talented Athlete Programme and £1.75 million to the Junior Groups Programme. The former currently supports some 450 athletes in 39 sports. The latter is designed to develop emerging talent in order to ensure international success in sport in several years time when the current crop of elite athletes have retired. Also, in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04, the Scottish Executive will allocate £200,000, £100,000 and £100,000 respectively to sport scotland for the preparation of the Commonwealth Games and Youth Commonwealth Games.

  Through sportscotland, the Scottish Executive is wholly committed to the Sport 21 vision of Scotland achieving and sustaining world class performances in sport. Scotland has taken the lead in the UK by setting up, in October 1998, the Scottish Institute of Sport (the Institute). The Institute will be part of the United Kingdom Sports Institute network and will be at the pinnacle of this process, promoting excellence and ensuring that our top athletes have the support and encouragement that they need to succeed at the highest level. £20 million of funding has been earmarked from the Lottery Sports Fund over the next four years to fund the Institute. The Institute’s key target is an increase in the number of Scottish medallists at World and Olympic competition.

  Following discussion in the UK Sports Cabinet in October, Dr Jack Cunningham MP was appointed to lead a review group to examine the way top athletes in the UK are supported through the Lottery Sports Fund. This will cover the World Class Performance Programme’s structure and finance, and the underpinning support structures provided by the UK Sports Institute and Home Country Sports Institutes.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the consultancy awarded to Arthur Andersen on professional development for teachers will cost.

Mr Jack McConnell: The contract value is approximately £950,000. This is not a fixed figure and may change in the light of the outcome of the McCrone discussions and other changing circumstances.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what tendering process took place prior to the appointment of Arthur Andersen to undertake a consultation on professional development for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: An accelerated restricted procedure notice was placed in the Official Journal of the European Community on 1 November 1999, as required by the EC Services Contracts Regulations. This was also reproduced in The Scotsman and The Herald (17 and 16 November 1999 respectively). 13 pre-qualifying questionnaires were received within the set timescale.

  Following an initial screening process six organisations were invited to tender on 23 December 1999. Two tenders were received. Following Technical and Commercial and Financial Analysis the contract was awarded to a consortium led by Arthur Andersen, in partnership with the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the remit for the consultancy awarded to Arthur Andersen on professional development for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: Under the contract awarded, the following tasks will be carried out:

  1. Consultation on and construction of a framework for continuing professional development based on the principles to be determined by the McCrone Implementation Group.

  2. Development of a training and development programme for serving headteachers.

  3. Development of a common recording system for teachers undertaking continuing professional development.

  4. Development and management of a communications strategy.

  These will be undertaken by a consortium led by Arthur Andersen, in partnership with the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to the appointment of a commercial consultant were considered prior to the appointment of Arthur Andersen to undertake a consultation on professional development for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: The tendering process for this contract was undertaken in accordance with EC Procurement Directives, allowing a wide range of individuals and organisations to apply. Following an initial screening process, six organisations were invited to tender, four of whom were not commercial consultants. In carrying out the contract, Arthur Andersen will be the lead body in a consortium which also comprises the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Teaching Council, colleges of education, university education departments and teaching unions were consulted about its intention to appoint a consultant to report on professional development for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: All stakeholders were consulted in 1998 regarding a framework for continuing professional development which was strongly supported. The invitation to tender for the contract to develop such a framework was advertised in November 1999 and all of the above groups were informed that a tendering process was underway.

  Consultation about the detail of the bids was restricted by commercial confidentiality. At the first meeting of the Ministerial Strategy Committee on Continuing Professional Development, on 4 October, was made known that a consortium of the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde led by Arthur Andersen had, on the 29 September, accepted the contract to develop the framework for CPD. The GTC, teaching unions, and others are represented on this committee.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it employs in connection with the maintenance and creation of external air links.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive employs no staff directly related to the maintenance and creation of external air links. It does, however, support Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd which can provide discounted airport charges to operators of new services for the first three years of operation, and it also supports the Enterprise Networks and Scottish Tourist Board which can assist in determining the need and demand for such air services.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed in the bus and aviation section of the Transport Division of its Development Department; how many of these staff deal solely with aviation, and what the grades of these staff are.

Sarah Boyack: Seven staff are employed in the section of the Scottish Executive Development Department’s Transport Division which deals with bus and aviation matters. Two deal solely with aviation issues. Their grades are B2 and B1.

Urban Waste Water Directive

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to seek a delay in the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive with specific reference to creameries.

Mr Sam Galbraith: None. A major tranche of the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) has already come into force.

  The Directive lays down, in Article 8, the circumstances in which a longer period for complying may be granted. These relate purely to "technical difficulties", which are problems with the physical provision of the necessary infrastructure, and do not allow delays arising from the financial circumstances of industrial sectors responsible for pollution. Industrial processors have already had 10 years to prepare for implementation, and many have gone to considerable lengths to ensure that they have done so.

Urban Waste Water Directive

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all forms of public support which could be made available to Scottish Milk Products in relation to the costs of complying with the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive, for example through enterprise agencies.

Ross Finnie: A range of public sector support has been discussed with Scottish Milk in recent months to assist it to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. These discussions have involved Argyll and Islands Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, West of Scotland Water and SERAD. The vast majority of companies in Scotland have complied with the Directive without significant public sector support but, given the fragile financial position of these two creameries and their importance to the dairy industry in Argyll and Bute, discussions have included exploring options to minimise both the one-off and ongoing costs to Scottish Milk and examining various methods of waste disposal to find the one which is most cost effective. Assistance and advice has also been offered to help the company improve the longer-term viability of the creameries and I have recently announced direct support for the dairy industry in the area so that, for the first time, dairy farmers within the milk quota ring fenced areas will be eligible for the Less Favoured Area payment.

  All the public sector agencies involved are making every effort to assist the creameries consistent with the relevant EU and UK legislation.

Urban Waste Water Directive

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Rural Development will make a Ministerial Statement to the Parliament early in 2001 on any implications for farmers of the Urban Waste Water Directive.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) was adopted in 1991. As early as 1990, during negotiations leading to the Directive, the local authorities, who were then responsible for the provision of water services now undertaken by water authorities, sought to inform their customer base about its implications. A major tranche of the Directive’s prescriptions came into force on 31 December 2000, but companies had been offered 10 years in which to prepare. Many of those associated with the farming community did so in the time given.

  Implementation of the Directive is leading to major improvements in Scotland’s water environment. Nevertheless, the Scottish Executive is conscious that delivery of these benefits has financial costs to a range of industrial sectors, including the food industry. The Scottish Executive is working closely with the water authorities, the enterprise bodies and individual companies to assist all of them to meet the required standards.